Visitors to this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show saw the show’s first India-inspired garden, commissioned by the British Council in partnership with the Piramal Group, and supported by Tata Consultancy Services, the JSW Group and Dr Gita Piramal, and designed by award-winning designer Sarah Eberle.
Aptly named India: A Billion Dreams, the garden's design is sparked by the hopes and dreams of young people in India, and draws on the UK and India’s shared love of cricket. The garden pays homage to the greatest cricketer of all time Sachin Tendulkar, and celebrates British Council's 70 years in India.
Amongst a range of Indian flowers including blue orchids, sacred lotus and roses, the garden was adorned with the rare Himalayan Blue Poppy flower whose colour reflects the blue of the Indian cricket team. The garden also featured pietra dura marble designed by traditional craftworkers in Jaipur who had worked on restoring the Taj Mahal.
India: A Billion Dreams was awarded the Silver Gilt Medal by the Royal Horticultural Society.